Caray, Caray!

• Elena told Alejandra in no uncertain terms that she did not want Ricardo near her children.
  “I don't want any father near my children who doesn't worry about them when it's so easy for him to abandon them for just any woman.”
  “Don't be such a manipulator,” was Alejandra's reply.
  “Does it look alright that they saw him [???] with another woman?”
  “I'd like to talk to them.”
  “No, Alejandra. You have no idea what you're talking about. You don't have children. You are not a mother.”
  “I don't have to have children to recognize that what you are doing is manipulation.”
  “Manipulation or not I will do what I have to to protect my children from whomever.”
  “You are protecting them from nobody, Elena. Ricardo loves them. He is incapable of hurting them.”
  “He's hurt them. He's hurt them badly.”
  “No, you have. By wanting to distance him from your children.”
  “I am sure that --”
  “I am sure that it won't.”
  “Tell me one thing: You weren't capable of forgiveness over one night with a prostitute. True? Don't tell me you have a mind that's that open.”
  “That has nothing to do with this.”
  “It has everything to do with this. It's the same thing. If that woman who died were here now to ask your forgiveness could you give it?”
  “You have no understanding –”
  “It's the same, it's exactly the same! You want to do something for Ricardo, don't you? Get away from him. That is the only way in which he will be allowed to see the children.”
  
  “You are sick, very sick. From one woman to another, you don't see the hurt you're causing your children.”
  “And you. Is that all?”
  “Goodbye, Elena.”
  Alejandra left, knowing she was dealing with a mental case. Elena looked like she realized she was competing with someone who was no dummy.
  
• Elena seems to have conveniently forgotten that she and Ricardo were divorced what, a year ago? If she had not forgotten her manners she would have called Ricardo before driving over with the children. She could hardly expect Ricardo to put his sex drive on ice. If this were presented in a courtroom the case would be dismissed.
  
• Benjamín went into Leticia's office, where she was reading about Carlos' case on the internet. She wondered why he took it. Benjamín said it was probably because it looked easy... and now it looked like it was getting more complicated. He was glad to not have to worry about this now that he was handling so much money for Carlos. Leticia said she was fed up with having to report to Alonso, and Benjamín said that she only needed to be a little patient because the cases they took under the table should be paying off shortly... and he could give her everything she wanted. He had remembered to close the door so they could risk desecrating her desk.
  
• Benjamín obviously hasn't taken a lesson from Gustavo's experience. He knows that at least one person in the office knows of his dalliance and he should be watching his back. Doors that are closed too frequently will be noticed.
• Alejandra pulled into the parking lot and started to cry. She asked the absent Ricardo why things had to be so difficult.
  
• Carlos and Alan entered Pilar's house. Imelda told her mother they had to sell the house because she couldn't stand to live there any longer. Pilar told her to rest and they would go out to a restaurant later. Imelda left her mother alone with the lawyers and Carlos got straight to the point.
  
  He asked whether it was true that she had had relations with Vicente. He had to know before the next audience with the law in case there was proof and his tone made it clear that he meant business. Pilar finally relented and told him that it was true. She called herself an idiot for having done so. Carlos and Alan exchanged glances.
  
• Pilar should have given a lot more thought to trying to be Mrs Robinson.
  
• Ricardo was having trouble concentrating on work. Alejandra arrived and he told her he couldn't stop thinking about his children. She then told him that she loved him very much and wanted to do the right thing. He seemed to sense that something bad was coming and she then said that she knew how much he loved his children and that she was posing a problem. Therefore she said they should not be together. She was actually accepting the blame for his problem. He wanted to talk to them because he knew Elena was behind this. She said she could not forget the children's facial expressions when she opened the apartment door wearing his shirt. Ricardo had no intention of giving her up, but she said that Elena would not change her mind about this. She said that she could not stand knowing that he could not see his children because of her.
  
• Carlos followed Pilar around to get her to talk. She finally said that her relationship with Vicente began on the day of a party. She was asleep when he arrived. It started as a game. Alan asked whether there were any physical messages or voicemails that show proof. She said she didn't know. She had wiped out all the ones on her cell phone in case her daughter would see them. She had been sure that this could remain a secret. Vicente was still behind bars, so what could happen? Carlos told her that this would complicate the case because this will not remain a secret. He was going to have to mount a more aggressive defense but he needed her to do something. He told her she had to tell Imelda everything.
  
  When she balked out of fear he told her that “It would be better for Imelda to hear it from your own mouth than to hear it in court. If his lawyer mentioned it, she obviously has proof.” He further advised her to find the way and do this before he got the next court date. He and Alan left.
  
• Ricardo protested the situation, but seemed resigned to losing Alejandra until he could resolve the situation with his children. They kissed and cried before she left his office and closed the door. He sat down at the edge of his desk to catch his breath.
  
• What Ricardo should have been doing is going back to the lawyer who handled his divorce. He would know what to do about Elena.
  
  
  
• Alonso saw a new client, Fausto Olivera. Alonso's success against Marrufo was what brought him to Vega & Associates. He came from a town called San Benito and talked about local political corruption. He said that the corruption was from the top down as the mayor was robbing all the money that should be going into schools and medical care. Alonso told him that he would need a lot more information before he decided on whether to take the case. Fausto told him that the mayor was well-protected and the people were afraid of him. This was going to make it very difficult to get proof.
  
  Alonso said that this would involve a complete investigation of the area which would involve federal authorities. It could also lead to the loss of the city charter. Fausto was eager and Alonso told him to bring as much information as possible for him to study.
  
• Tatiana was walking home when she saw Pedro behind her.
  
  She called Juan who told her to into a public place like a store or a cafe until he could get there. She finally got to one. Pedro did not follow her inside.
  
• Ricardo and Leonardo talked about the situation. Ricardo even wondered whether he deseved happiness at all. Leonardo told him not to go there in his mind, that this was a temporary situation. The restraining order said that he and Elena had to come to an agreement and he said he was going to work on it. He was determined not to stop fighting for his children and for Alejandra.
  
• Roberto and Juan went through the nth round of disagreement over how far the latter should not extend himself for Tatiana. Roberto reminded him that Tatiana was also a suspect. Roberto said he would talk to Sonia about police protection for her and Juan said he would have to go and meet her. He was out the door before Roberto could say anything else.
  
• Carlos and Alan talked about the Huerta case. Alan told him that the affair didn't make Imelda guilty and Carlos speculated about DNA. He was hoping that winning this case would vindicate him in the eyes of the public.
  
• Roberto and Leonardo talked about Ricardo. Roberto proposed his usual solution which was for Ricardo to relax and go out to meet women. Leonardo rejected this idea, saying that Ricardo would not want that. Roberto brought up his worries about Juan, thinking that he was getting too involved. He was thinking of taking him off the case, but Leonardo said no. Juan had made too much progress on it. Roberto was concerned because Juan was innocent and girls like Tatiana were very manipulative. “And believe me, I'm a pro.”
  
• Juan arrived at the restaurant and Tatiana told him that Pedro had been following her. She didn't know what he wanted and she also feared for her son. She wanted to leave the country but didnt have a passport. He told her that they were arranging protection for her and it was likely to begin the next day. She was panicking once again about the intervening time as she tried to appeal once again to the White Knight in him.
  
• Fernanda was helping Susanna with the ironing as they waited for Juan. They finally went out.
  
• Since Fernanda appears to have competition someone should advise her to read The Joy of Sex, or something of that ilk.
  
• Paula and her friends were eating when she got home from the office. They saw that all was not well and she explained that she broke up with Ricardo because of a problem with his ex-wife. Alicia said that this was very common and nothing to worry about but Alejandra said it was much more complicated. She told them she had talked to Elena and she was impossible. Alicia told her to think of this as a test o the elationship and she was to come to them if she needed to.
  
  That made her feel a little better, at least for the moment. She hoped this would not take long.
  
• Juan arrived home just before Susanna. He told her that one of their witnesses felt unsafe and that he wanted to bring her home for the night. Susanna was not pleased at the prospect.
  
  Tatiana came out of the next room to tell them that her son was asleep and to thank Susanna for allowing this.
  
  This situation caught Susanna by surprise and that was not to her liking.
  
• Gustavo accompanied Leonardo and Roberto to the club that evening. Roberto began dispensing his boilerplate advice to Gustavo although flowers and chocolates would not be enough. He did tell Gustavo that he had to court and win Isabel all over again.
  
  He then drew their attention to the bar because he was going to demonstrate his moves.
  
• Tatiana was really slathering it on thick when thanking Juan and praising his generosity that he gave her his room. On the pretext of cooking or washing dishes Susanna remained nearby, listening and saying nothing until Tatiana decided to retire for the night. As soon as she was beyond earshot Susanna quietly scolded Juan for this, eventually saying that this was for one night and one night only.
  
• Carlos and Alan continued to discuss the case. Carlos wondered how it could be that Vicente was having an affair with Pilar when he and Imelda had just gotten the same tattoo. It didn't make sense. The doorbell rang and Alan answered it.
  
  It was El Ciego and El Gato. Carlos was not expecting them and El Ciego asked “What, am I not welcome in yor house?”
  “Of course,” Carlos said, with no real enthusiasm. He invited him to sit down.
  
  It was evident from there that El Ciego expected priority treatment over all of Carlos' other clients, as he was paying him the most money. Carlos told him that his money was clean, but El Ciego said that he was there for another purpose. Carlos apologized but he had another case that needed his attention. El Ciego told him “As far as I'm concerned you are my employee and you will do as I want.” He poked him in the shoulder while threatening that El Gato would deliver him to the delegation. Carlos was backed into a corner. This man didn't care what happened with Carlos' other clients.
  
  “My first mistake is...I don't like to lose a friend.” he said, putting his hand on Carlos' shoulder. Carlos immediately asked him what he wanted. One of El Ciego's men had gotten into a bit of trouble. They left.
  
• Roberto demonstrated that he was a smooth operator when talking to the two girls at the bar. One said she had a boyfriend and left. Roberto then persuaded the blonde to leave with him. He bid good night to his two friends after paying their bill. When he left Gustavo commented that Roberto could get anyone. Leonardo replied that Roberto's Mount Everest was Victoria. Gustavo knew that as well, then said he was going to take Roberto's advice and reconquer Isabel all over again. He was sure he knew what to do.
  
  
  
• A little later Roberto was in bed with the blonde he picked up from the bar, but his facial expressions said that his mind was very much elsewhere.
  
• Carlos went to the police station where El Ciego's other employee was in a cell. Carlos asked him what happened and he started talking about collecting protection money from a restaurant owner who didn't want to pay. He was somewhat less than forthcoming and he was looking to get out as soon as possible, even grabbing Carlos' lapel through the bars.  Carlos finally started telling him what to say in court.

Labels: ley

Permalink posted by Urban Anthropologist @ 12:16 AM